Is Parker procrastinating or scene setting for fairer tax system?

Written By: - Date published: 3:40 pm, April 27th, 2022 - 49 comments
Categories: capital gains, david parker, Economy, inequality, Politics, tax - Tags: , ,

Is Revenue Minister David Parker’s plan to gather tax data on the wealthy just more procrastination by this Labour government on making the tax system fairer? Or is it recognition the public debate needs a long-term frame to get a capital gains, or wealth tax, over the line?

Hosted by Child Poverty Action Group, the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies of the Victoria University of Wellington, and Tax Justice Aotearoa on Tuesday, Parker was at pains to point out that his government is not remotely considering any tax that might address the inequality and unfairness of the current system identified by its 2019 Tax Working Group.

He even seemed proud to point out that not only does Aotearoa not have a high tax regime by OECD standards, but that the total tax-take as a proportion of GDP at 32% is indistinguishable from its neo-liberalist National Party opponents.

“We have got no secret plan to introduce a capital gains tax, a wealth tax, a deemed income tax, nor others,” he said in his speech.

He said IRD is not even doing any policy work to develop such taxes.

While he claimed “it’s not true that we have failed to deliver” a fairer system, he blamed the inherited housing crisis and the pandemic for failure to address such things as a lack of an inheritance tax or gift duties.

On the question of why they failed to address the TWG’s basic requirement to enact a capital gains tax, Parker said: “We couldn’t get the parliamentary votes to get it across the line, that’s why it failed.”

Asked if he agreed with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s promise of no CGT under her watch, he said they would adhere to that.

In spite of the lack of action over addressing tax fairness, Parker says he is a big fan of the work of local researcher and writer on economic inequality, Max Rashbrooke, as well as French economist Thomas Piketty, author of Wealth in the Twenty-first Century, documenting wealth concentration.

“An important objective of taxes is to redistribute income, as well as the cost of public services, on a socially acceptable basis,” Parker said.

Despite its thumping 2020 election win, because of the government’s perceived failure to get sufficient political support to radically change the tax system, or its lack of will, Parker has turned attention to data gaps IRD collects about different groups pay, in particular, the very wealthy.

Piketty’s research suggests the less information that is collected on tax, the more inequality a country will have, says Parker.

Parker’s plan, according to PWC Partner and former TWG member, Geoff Nightingale, is a very long-term one to set the framework for a future debate on tax where there will be an inescapable imperative to impose more tax on the wealthy because they will be exposed as not paying their fair share.

“It’s attempting to frame a narrative that would perhaps build a political mandate for these kind of things (wealth or capital gains tax),” Nightingale told RNZ.

Parker said he was shocked to learn that Statistics NZ’s Household Economic Survey has, because of the loose way it questions interviewees, has never found anyone in Aotearoa with wealth over $20 million.

“How come in a country with billionaires, our data set, for policy purposes, effectively ignores the wealthiest?… It beggars belief that we currently do not know what rate of tax is paid by the top cohort in New Zealand on their economic income.”

Rough measures of wealth suggests that two thirds of financial assets in Aotearoa are owned by just 5 percent.

It is really opaque who pays what tax, Parker said.

To address that, since last year’s budget, IRD has been given the power and funds to collect information, to research tax paid by the wealthiest, relative to their income.

There is strict security on the information collected and it cannot be used to target individuals.

“Until we have a more accurate picture about how much tax the very wealthy pay, relative to their full ‘economic income’, we can’t honestly say that our tax system is fair. I think the gap will shock some people, but whether my instincts are right or wrong will be proven by the data,” he said.

A second information gap, which IRD is working on, is the amount of GST each cohort pays relative to income. Parker says this is important, because GST is a regressive tax and in Aotearoa, a high proportion of tax is gathered by GST relative to other countries.

Aligned to this work, Parker intends to pass a Tax Principles Act this term, which will lay out principles that underly our tax system. It would work similarly to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, now part of the Public Finance Act.

Parker said the main settled principles are:

  • Horizontal equity, so that those in equivalent economic positions should pay the same amount of tax
  • Vertical equity, including some degree of overall progressivity in the rate of tax paid
  • Administrative efficiency, for both taxpayers and Inland Revenue
  • The minimisation of tax induced distortions to investment and the economy.

Officials would be required to report on whether these principles are being adhered to, in particular, whether the rich are being taxed enough, or poorer cohorts are paying too much tax relative to income.

Economist Geoff Bertram, of Victoria’s Institute of Governance and Policy Studies pointed out the principles approach is only a cross section sample and, because of the lack of inheritance and gift taxes, fails to capture information on wealth transfer.

Asked what Labour will actually do when, if as he suspects, the data shows the wealthy are not paying their fair whack, Parker was extremely cagey for fear of provoking a Muldoon-style dancing Cossacks fear-campaign.

“Let’s wait and see. I didn’t want to have it misrepresented that we are planning six or seven taxes. We’re not.”


Simon Louisson, a former journalist, reported for The Wall Street Journal, AP Dow Jones Newswires, New Zealand Press Association and Reuters and also worked as a political and media adviser to the Green Party.

49 comments on “Is Parker procrastinating or scene setting for fairer tax system? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Ad 1
    27 April 2022 at 4:01 pm

    Sunlight.

    It's a start.

    I can't wait for Ardern to leave – she's just a concrete roadblock.

    • Alan 1.1
      27 April 2022 at 4:07 pm

      Really Ad?

      Ardern is the sole reason labour is in power, if she goes, it is all over.

      The current government less Ardern will struggle to get 25% of the vote in the next election.

      • Ad 1.1.1
        27 April 2022 at 5:14 pm

        Also true.

        But then, all of Labour's ambition in tax left them in the first term when Ardern actively killed it.

        Since tax is the key lever to shifting wealth in NZ, and Ardern has said there will be no further tax reform while she leads, Ardern needs to go.

        Better for Labour to dump Ardern and take responsibility for this stupendous wealth transfer to the top 5%.

        • pat 1.1.1.1
          27 April 2022 at 5:50 pm

          Its almost a certainty they will not command the Treasury benches after the next election….and they will largely have themselves to blame.

        • roblogic 1.1.1.2
          27 April 2022 at 5:50 pm

          Labour would have to be really cratering in the polls before considering such a radical move. Even then they would probably ask her to gracefully resign. And I can’t see anyone in their lineup with a tenth of her charisma. Andrew Little would be my guess. (Definitiely not Robbo!) Very hard to follow the inspiration that was Jacindamania.

          But it seems that cratering in the polls is becoming more likely as the economy falls off a cliff of our own making by over leveraging in housing investment. It’s 50/50 at this point, but if mortgage rates & inflation rises much further then public unrest will folllow, and the government will be tempted to bail out troubled homeowners, making the wealth transfer in this country even worse.

          It’s a nasty dilemma with no easy answers, because we allowed shit to get worse instead of playing out in the 2008 GFC. Forest fires are a necessary cleaning mechanism that gets rid of dead wood and fertilises the soil for regenerative growth. Putting them off guarantees a much bigger and unstoppable conflagration in future.

          The only solution I can see is a New Deal for NZ, not more austerity. Which wil be (correctly) perceived as class war by the NZ Herald and wealthy Nactoids. They are used to winning the class war by fair means or foul and will have a massive tantrum if they have to give an inch.

          • James Thrace 1.1.1.2.1
            27 April 2022 at 6:03 pm

            Kieran McNulty and Kiri Allan are probably the top two contenders for leadership of Labour.

            Robertson will be well beyond his use by date when Jacinda leaves.

            Labour requires renewal, not retreads, beyond Jacinda. It’s as if they haven’t heeded the lessons following Helen Clark’s departure.

            Kieran has done great work as an MP, and also as a party whip. He’s extremely affable and relates well to many people.

            Kiri has the mana and the chops to get done what needs to be done. Many were impressed by her stand ups following the east coast earthquake a couple years ago, quickly followed by her cancer disclosure. Having that in her mind, whilst being cool, calm and collected as the Civil Defence Minister during that period, isn’t an easy balance.

            Kiri and Kieran please.

          • Ad 1.1.1.2.2
            27 April 2022 at 6:06 pm

            Agree it's a nasty dilemma. But it is one of their own making.

            Labour Central under Robertson has for 9 years killed off new blood MPs who dare to think in hard concepts.

            And I sure as shit ain't saying that the Greens have New Deal coherence in them either.

            Ardern's political epitaph will be: ride high, crash low.

            • tc 1.1.1.2.2.1
              28 April 2022 at 12:27 pm

              +100

              When she blanket ruled out a CGT it signalled popularity over long overdue reform.

              Doing nothing just makes it worse.

          • arkie 1.1.1.2.3
            27 April 2022 at 6:15 pm

            Forest fires are a necessary cleaning mechanism that gets rid of dead wood and fertilises the soil for regenerative growth. Putting them off guarantees a much bigger and unstoppable conflagration in future.

            Very apt.

            Those used to systemic advantage express themselves most frequently through tantrum and it will not be limited to Nactoids. They have had two flavours of advantage since 1984 and they're addicted to the taste.

            I would welcome a New Deal-style solution but I cannot see the modern NZ Labour party being prepared to weather the heat that comes with the proposal of such a policy. They have largely seemed to govern by reacting to media narratives and ruling out action that would turn the narrative against them

  2. tsmithfield 2
    27 April 2022 at 4:07 pm

    I think one of the key points with any effective tax system is that it is simple and easy to administer. The more complex a tax system is, the more loopholes it tends to create, and tends to become an administrative nightmare to admister.

    Simplicity is the beauty of GST. It is very difficult to avoid and relatively easy to administer. In effect, GST tends to tax the wealthy more because they tend to buy more expensive things.

    So far as a capital gains tax is concerned, I think the bright-line test provides a relatively simple proxy for a CGT. It is quite simple and easy to understand. And it captures the most substantial asset that most people own.

    So far as a more general capital gains tax goes, I think that has the potential to become extremely complex and burdensome to administer. For a start, it will be God's gift to valuers who will have an enormous task valuing all the qualifying assets to ascertain opening values.

    Then, are realised gains only to be taxed, or are unrealised gains to be taxed also. If it is the former then the CGT may not produce much for a long time because many people hold on to their assets.

    If unrealised gains are to be taxed, then it becomes even more God's gift to valuers who will have to routinely revalue assets and then people getting taxed on assets they haven't any cash benefit for at that time.

    Also, what qualifies as an asset for tax purposes? Houses and shares obviously. But what about fine art, precious metals, furniture, mundane motor vehicles (which tend to depreciate in value), compared to classic/vintage cars that may go up in value etc etc.

    What about the distinction between whether personal assets (e.g the family home) should incur CGT compared to say a rental property. I can see that distinction as overly complicating an already complicated tax. And causing a lot of loopholes. For instance, people owning assets in their personal name rather than by their company for instance.

    • Simon Louisson 2.1
      27 April 2022 at 4:26 pm

      The advantage of simplicity over fairness is often bought up by accounting experts whose job often entails devising complex ways for people to avoid paying tax.
      Re CGT, all of the TWG unanimously agreed on the need for a CGT although there was a minority view on its application.
      Re valuation, all houses are currently valued for rating purposes.

      • tsmithfield 2.1.1
        27 April 2022 at 4:45 pm

        Ratable values aren't true values. They don't take into account many things that affect house values as a valuer doesn't physically visit the property.

        So, from the point of view of a CGT, it is essentially meaningless.

        • lprent 2.1.1.1
          28 April 2022 at 3:54 pm

          Most prices have very little to do with underlying values or even profit margins. Mostly what it has to do with is how much people are willing to pay for it.

          But if you’re after simplicity, then adding GST to all interest payments seems like a no-brainer. That’d make it more equitable as well. Often the wealthier a person is, the more they spend in interest payments – often largely untaxed.

    • Ad 2.2
      27 April 2022 at 5:18 pm

      GST may well be simple, but it is far more destructive to the poor than inflation at 5%.

      Imagine the price of everything decreasing by 15% overnight: electricity, rates, fuel, food, medicine.

      Imagine to replace some of that lost state income, a tax of 50% on all-income over $200k per person.

      GST is a disgusting perpetual weight upon NZ society that has ground us down for two decades.

      • Foreign waka 2.2.1
        27 April 2022 at 6:11 pm

        I think rather than tinkering around, 3 things could happen straight away with very little cost to the taxpayer:

        1/ GST on levies and taxes that are payable to the government should go

        2/ Trusts should be fully taxable

        3/ Religious organizations are taxed as everybody else

        I think this would be agreeable with most folks and would actually be a fairer approach than what is happening now.

        • Belladonna 2.2.1.1
          27 April 2022 at 7:59 pm

          Iwi taxed too?

        • Craig H 2.2.1.2
          28 April 2022 at 1:39 pm

          Trust income is taxable other than for registered charities. While some charities are shams, most are legitimate organisations trying to improve lives and society.

      • tsmithfield 2.2.2
        27 April 2022 at 6:33 pm

        “GST may well be simple, but it is far more destructive to the poor than inflation at 5%.”

        I think that problem is better dealt with from the government support side of the equation for with family support and the like.

        And there isn't any guarantee that removing 15% GST would mean that prices would always drop 15%.

        A simple tax system is most efficient in generating revenue, so in the end is better for everyone as it means there is more available to help the poor.

        • Nic the NZer 2.2.2.1
          27 April 2022 at 6:56 pm

          Measuring the efficiency of taxation is extremely stupid. Its extremely efficient to setup a self assessment regime because it barely needs any enforcement for honest people to pay in. It also lets all the people taking liberties just pay whatever, so your basically punishing honesty.

          • tsmithfield 2.2.2.1.1
            27 April 2022 at 8:39 pm

            That example is false equivalence with GST. GST is both very simple and very difficult to avoid, which makes it completely different to the example you have given.

            • Nic the NZer 2.2.2.1.1.1
              27 April 2022 at 11:10 pm

              You claimed efficiency was a sensible (and general) measure of taxation policy, and as I highlighted, its not. And my example is not even far fetched the US income tax regime broadly fits the description, being all of relatively cheap to run, bureaucratic and ineffective at collection.

      • roblogic 2.2.3
        27 April 2022 at 6:59 pm

        GST is a disgusting perpetual weight upon NZ society that has ground us down for two decades.

        Yup. It's Roger Douglas/ACT wet dream of a flat tax that in their tiny selfish minds is "fair". The greedies think it is their sacred right to stomp on the faces of the poor and hoard everything for themselves. They forget that we live in a community, and by virtue of this community (and by exploiting it) that they have become rich.

    • lprent 2.3
      28 April 2022 at 3:52 pm

      I think one of the key points with any effective tax system is that it is simple and easy to administer. The more complex a tax system is, the more loopholes it tends to create, and tends to become an administrative nightmare to admister.

      The problem with GST is what it doesn't cover. For instance if it covered the sale and rental of personal property then it'd go a long way towards equalising inequities.

      However that is seldom the case unless the wealthy wish to do so – usually to recover costs. Like for rentals which are usually ~5-10% higher depending on mortgages to recover the GST on costs.

      Basically the flaw in your idealised environment is that the people who have the highest GST as a percentage of what they earn are also the people who are least able to afford it. That is because they are unable to evade it.

      To make it simple – GST should be on everything, including the purchase and sale of all property.

    • mikesh 2.4
      2 May 2022 at 1:37 pm

      If unrealised gains are to be taxed, then it becomes even more God's gift to valuers who will have to routinely revalue assets and then people getting taxed on assets they haven't any cash benefit for at that time.

      Unrealised capital gains are not a problem since the values would already have been calculated for rates purposes.

  3. roblogic 3
    27 April 2022 at 4:18 pm

    The strategy is sound. Labour has an uphill battle to convince the majority of Kiwis that our system is deeply unfair. Maybe Labour should have let more people experience the joys of WINZ instead of handing out special Covid payments.

    For the informed Left however this looks like more procrastination and incrementalism. So it's another insult to those hoping for real change after the findings of the working groups from Labour's first term.

    https://twitter.com/markstewartnz/status/1519089192625917952?s=21&t=u9XolMmlpXjtpT8W7G_zCQ

  4. roblogic 4
    27 April 2022 at 4:53 pm

    Here are a few things Labour must do before the next election to counter their present inertia over the cost of living crisis and to counter some of the more egregious and obvious inequalities impacting ordinary Kiwis

    https://twitter.com/labourcartel/status/1506490928550215680?s=21&t=u9XolMmlpXjtpT8W7G_zCQ

    • Ad 4.1
      27 April 2022 at 5:23 pm

      That would be a great start given how regressive GST is.

      Parker's proposed legislation is a piss-poor alternative to actually doing something.

      That degree of price regulation for fruit and vegetables would need a far stronger Commerce Commission than we have now. We've not seen any sign of strong price regulation from this government, after multiple chances.

      Parker's initiative is something you would do in your first year of your first term, not a long excuse for your third term.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    27 April 2022 at 5:10 pm

    Well outlined Simon; but two more things…
    • flogging dead horses (awful but effective metaphor)
    • once in a generation majority MMP Govt.–opportunity for retiring Rogernomics squandered

    The NZ Labour Caucus is essentially neo Blairist. The PM who I greatly respect re COVID, could not manage to finish a volume by mild critic of Capitalism–Thomas Piketty. Ideological failure from NZ Labour, action comes from thinking and a class analysis. Capitalists have this sussed!

    The numerical voting power begins to shift from boomer to new gens in 2023, and will be solid by 2026, that is the hope for change. X,Y, Z have to step up.

  6. Dennis Frank 6
    27 April 2022 at 5:10 pm

    The correct answer to your question is both, I reckon. Labour incrementalism is by design due to their perception that most voters progress like turtles (slowly). The merit of such pragmatism lies in the fact that progress is indeed happening, yet insufficiently fast to freak out the mainstreamers. And you’re right that "public debate needs a long-term frame" because one that is realistic and well-designed would provide an ideal ideological basis for rational policy.

    A classic case of Parker being clever whilst doing his usual bank-clerk impressions to bamboozle the Nats. Problem is, he's up against the bureaucrats, who have a vested interest in preserving their antique byzantine methods of handling tax. Operating a simple system is a notion sufficiently radical to spook them severely – yet it could have the unforeseen benefit of triggering managers into a lunge for early retirement.

    • Craig H 6.1
      28 April 2022 at 9:44 am

      Parker has the experience and ability to deal with bureaucrats – he's one of the most capable ministers in Cabinet although we don't see much of him in public.

  7. Robert Guyton 7
    27 April 2022 at 6:45 pm

    I'm backing Parker. I think Labour are going for it (nothing to lose, to late to muck around).

  8. Sacha 8
    27 April 2022 at 8:10 pm

    Parker will never be described as bold. Nor Robertson at this rate.

    https://twitter.com/_chloeswarbrick/status/1518756483181453313

  9. tsmithfield 9
    28 April 2022 at 8:44 am

    Further to some of the points I made above, I wanted to frame my position in terms that we hopefully could probably all agree on.

    Firstly, the objective of a tax system is to maximise the amount of revenue available to meet government spending needs. One of those key needs is sufficient funding to maintain and continually improve our core social services and responsibilities.

    There are three key requirements to achieve that goal. Firstly, to set an optimal tax rate that maximises tax return from taxable income. The second requirement is that tax liability is very difficult to avoid. The third requirement is to minimise the amount of churn required to administer the tax system.

    I want to focus on the churn aspect here.

    The first point is that money spent on administering the tax system is a deduction from the money available to meet government spending needs.

    The second point is that money spent on administering the tax system takes resources away from otherwise productive activities.

    For instance, people employed to administer the tax system might be more productively used in marketing NZ products overseas for instance. If they were used in productive activities instead of essentially unproductive ones, then NZ companies would become more productive and therefore generate more taxable income. More taxable income would mean more revenue the government has available to meet its various responsibilities including the social ones.

    Therefore, it is key that along with the other two points I mentioned at the start, (optimal tax rate and low avoidance) that our tax system should be as simple as possible and easy to administer.

    The result of that should be increased income for the government which will provide more income to meet social needs in NZ.

    So, from which ever perspective it is considered, a simple tax system, set at the optimal rate, that is difficult to avoid, and easy to administer, is the ideal tax scenario, and something that should be aimed for.

    • Craig H 9.1
      28 April 2022 at 2:14 pm

      I don't think there is any current belief in Labour or National (or ACT) in maximising tax revenue – I'm sure tax revenue would be higher if taxes were increased, even if it wasn't a straight 1:1. To quote from the Laffer Curve article linked:

      There are some fundamental problems with the Laffer Curve—notably that it is far too simplistic in its assumptions. First, that the optimal tax revenue-maximizing tax rate T* is unique and static, or at least stable. Second that the shape of the Laffer Curve, at least in the vicinity of the current tax rate and T* is known or even knowable to policymakers. Lastly, that maximizing or even increasing tax revenue is a desirable policy goal.

      Minimising (not eliminating) administrative complexity is admirable, not least because punishing genuine mistakes tends to be counterproductive, but tax systems will always involve some level of complexity.

      Practically, NZ could quite easily increase GST and the lower brackets of income tax by a few % at least with no real ability of people to avoid either of those and little-to-no additional administrative burden, but don't because maximising tax revenue isn't really a current goal.

      • tsmithfield 9.1.1
        29 April 2022 at 7:15 am

        I see the Laffer Curve as more of a concept than an exact science.

        Sort of similar to arguments about more public holidays increasing efficiency. Obviously there is not a one-to-one correlation in such an argument. Otherwise 100% public holidays would equal optimal productivity, which obviously is nonsense.

        I suspect the Laffer Curve is specific to economies or even economic sectors, so that the optimal tax rate may fall at different positions on the curve depending on contingencies in particular economies.

        • Craig H 9.1.1.1
          29 April 2022 at 9:28 am

          Fair enough, it's certainly a reasonable point that there's a maximum amount of tax revenue a country can raise before avoidance/evasion outpaces additional revenue.

  10. Molly 10
    28 April 2022 at 9:16 am

    If we wanted a equitable tax system why don't we create one, and provide clear guidelines for?

    A reasonable tax system would also assess the externalities of a business – social, environmental, as well as the external benefits.

    We already have a method of calculating this with the SROI – Social Return on Investment, but the IRD can define others if necessary.

    Businesses can submit to a standard assessment, created and monitored by IRD, such as the B-Corporation does, and receive a rating – and a notice of what documents they need to provide to maintain that rating every year. Ratings can be reviewed in full every three years or so.

    https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/certification

    B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. In order to achieve certification, a company must:

    • Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing our risk review. Multinational corporations must also meet baseline requirement standards.
    • Make a legal commitment by changing their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders, and achieve benefit corporation status if available in their jurisdiction.
    • Exhibit transparency by allowing information about their performance measured against B Lab’s standards to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website.

    It would be important to standardise both assessment and documentation.

    Benefit for businesses that have higher ratings in terms of the beneficial impacts on people, place and well-being? They pay lower taxes. After all, they are requiring less government resources in regards to any externalities.

    For smaller businesses a more streamlined process would be appropriate.

    Any business that didn't want to be rated when the opportunity came to do so, pays a standard 40% tax. So would any business where ownership is not in NZ, or uses an overseas entity to operate, which is not transparent.

    Another solution will have to be found for multi-nationals.

    (GST should be eliminated. It is the lower waged/beneficiaries income that effectively end up paying GST as an additional tax. They are the ones most likely to spend all their income from week to week, and they have no access to a tax vehicle to avoid it at all. If you wanted to retain GST on luxury items, then that's the most equitable place to do so. Items that have no particular benefit, and may be causing harm to produce or use.)

    Then look at the personal income rates of people, and how they earn to decide what their rates should be.

    The added benefit of using a sliding scale is particularly relevant in addressing climate change.

    Climate change transition – via tax reduction

    Without the need for targeted grants etc, those businesses who can show they are reducing their carbon footprint, are encouraged in that by their reduced tax. It is the most equitable way of supporting businesses who contribute to their community and the environment.

  11. Bearded Git 11
    28 April 2022 at 10:18 am

    Parker has ruled out a wealth tax so the review is a complete waste of time. Only a WT will gradually address the massive wealth disparity between the top 5 per cent and the rest

    • Craig H 11.1
      28 April 2022 at 2:17 pm

      Even Piketty has given up on straight wealth taxes – too easy to dodge by moving to another country along with most of one's assets (particularly easy in the EU). Land taxes could be done though since land can't be moved.

      • Bearded Git 11.1.1
        28 April 2022 at 2:32 pm

        Agree Craig that land tax is another option….moving counties is a pretty drastic way to avoid taxes.

        • Binders full of women 11.1.1.1
          28 April 2022 at 3:10 pm

          It's not that drastic in that they probably mean 'move where your comapny is registered' to another country- not necessarily yourself. I know two individuals who operate businesses in NZ– one is an Aussie company, the other has an Israeli parent company.

          • Bearded Git 11.1.1.1.1
            28 April 2022 at 3:22 pm

            Good point.

            This sounds a little like the ridiculous and scandalous "non-dom" scam in the UK.

            I still think a WT, like the one that was in the Green’s manifesto at the last election, should be part of the mix.

  12. DukeEll 12
    28 April 2022 at 3:28 pm

    Taxing the wealthy more so this government can engage in more low value schemes with no outcome in mind, just to increase inflation and hurt the poorest more.

    It's hard to believe that you can give a government a majority and they fuck the country up this badly. soundest argument for removing the MMP threshold i've ever seen

    • roblogic 12.1
      29 April 2022 at 7:36 am

      you have the drivers of inflation wrong, the present difficulties are due to a pandemic and global instability and excessive profit taking by unregulated capitalist greed. i can’t see any alternative nz govt dealing with that better than Labour, frustratingly slow as they are

  13. McFlock 13
    28 April 2022 at 6:28 pm

    HES doesn't pick up billionaires, but (by definition) it doesn't pick up homeless people, either. It's a rough snapshot of the population, with little detail in the fringes, because it's a survey of a few thousand households out of 1.8million. It has its uses, but looking at trace elements of the population isn't one of them.

    That aside, find 'em and tax 'em.

  14. mickysavage 14
    4 May 2022 at 7:23 pm

    Scene setting but I suspect it was a personal effort and not a centrally coordinated one.

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    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    5 hours ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    8 hours ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    14 hours ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    22 hours ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    1 day ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    1 day ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    5 days ago

  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • The unboxing
    And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the tree with its gold ribbon but can turn out to be nothing more than a big box holding a voucher for socks, so it ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • A cruel, vicious, nasty government
    So, after weeks of negotiations, we finally have a government, with a three-party cabinet and a time-sharing deputy PM arrangement. Newsroom's Marc Daalder has put the various coalition documents online, and I've been reading through them. A few things stand out: Luxon doesn't want to do any work, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Hurrah – we have a new government (National, ACT and New Zealand First commit “to deliver for al...
    Buzz from the Beehive Sorry, there has been  no fresh news on the government’s official website since the caretaker trade minister’s press statement about the European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement. But the capital is abuzz with news – and media comment is quickly flowing – after ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Christopher Luxon – NZ PM #42.
    Nothing says strong and stable like having your government announcement delayed by a day because one of your deputies wants to remind everyone, but mostly you, who wears the trousers. It was all a bit embarrassing yesterday with the parties descending on Wellington before pulling out of proceedings. There are ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Coalition Government details policies & ministers
    Winston Peters will be Deputy PM for the first half of the Coalition Government’s three-year term, with David Seymour being Deputy PM for the second half. Photo montage by Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: PM-Elect Christopher Luxon has announced the formation of a joint National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government with a ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • “Old Coat” by Peter, Paul & Mary.
     THERE ARE SOME SONGS that seem to come from a place that is at once in and out of the world. Written by men and women who, for a brief moment, are granted access to that strange, collective compendium of human experience that comes from, and belongs to, all the ...
    Bowalley Road
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 23-November-2023
    It’s Friday again! Maybe today we’ll finally have a government again. Roll into the weekend with some of the articles that caught our attention this week. And as always, feel free to add your links and observations in the comments. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s strategy for COP28 in Dubai
    The COP28 countdown is on. Over 100 world leaders are expected to attend this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which starts next Thursday. Among the VIPs confirmed for the Dubai summit are the UK’s Rishi Sunak and Brazil’s Lula da Silva – along ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago

  • Coalition talks: a timeline
    Media demand to know why a coalition government has yet to be formed. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    5 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Nov 24
    Luxon was no doubt relieved to be able to announce a coalition agreement has been reached, but we still have to wait to hear the detail. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Passing Things Down.
    Keeping The Past Alive: The durability of Commando comics testifies to the extended nature of the generational passing down of the images, music, and ideology of the Second World War. It has remained fixed in the Baby Boomers’ consciousness as “The Good War”: the conflict in which, to a far ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2023
    Open access notables How warped are we by fossil fuel dependency? Despite Russia's invasion of Ukraine, 35-40 million cubic meters per day of Russian natural gas are piped across Ukraine for European consumption every single day, right now. In order to secure European cooperation against Russian aggression, Ukraine must help to ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Is political stability shifting down as NZ awaits new ministers moving into their Beehive offices?
    As the talks to form a  new  government wrap up (40 days since the election), officials  ought  to be telling  the three  leaders what  is  happening in the outside world, along  with their briefing papers poised for  new ministers to wrestle  with. Among the news items that  should be  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • The Right Move Against Hamas Was Not To Make One.
    “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” - Sun Tzu (544 ─ 496BC)ISRAEL’S LEGAL RIGHT to strike back at Hamas is unchallengeable. No nation, having suffered the sort of horrific attack unleashed upon Israel by Hamas ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Only a perfect present and an even more perfect tomorrow
    Yesterday, as this rough beast of a coalition began its slouch towards Wellington, the talk turned to who would be deputy. Would it be Winston? Would it be David? Would it be Nicola? Oh, it was never going to be Nicola, said the imminent prime minister, not when there is ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Join us on the weekly hoon on YouTube Live at 5pm
    Photo by Atanas Teodosiev on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • A handful of observations.
    I have opined regularly about the Hamas-Israel war over on the social media platform owned by that reactionary billionaire, but other than the preceding post have opted to not address the subject directly here at KP. However, the amount of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Court ruling shows big political donations can be given secretly
    New Zealand’s rules to regulate money in politics can now officially be declared broken. Although, in theory, political parties are required to publicly declare any large donations, we now know that in practice they sometimes don’t, and the enforcement and legal consequences can be extremely weak. We know this because ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Luxon and leadership
    Chris Trotter writes –  LEADERSHIP. The corporate world is obsessed by it. In the absence of strong corporate leadership an adequate return on the shareholders’ investment cannot be guaranteed. Poor corporate management can lead to poor dividends, lower share prices, disinvestment and, ultimately, disaster. That’s why corporate leadership matters. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • We are unsure of Damien O’Connor’s whereabouts, but he brings news today of European vote on the...
    Buzz from the Beehive Great news. No, not the great news you most likely are waiting for, which is the announcement of coalition negotiations being completed, what has been agreed, who has landed which jobs – and so on. It is great news nevertheless because it suggests there is life ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • 21st Century City or 20th Century Carpark?
    Yesterday I wrote about the council’s upcoming decision around the sale of the downtown carpark. On the same day the herald ran an opinion by Patrick Reynolds in his role as deputy chair of the Council’s City Centre Advisory Panel, reproduced below with permission. It is worth noting that this structure ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Luxon And Leadership.
    What Kind Of Leader? It’s the only definition of leadership that makes any sense in the world most people live in – which is not the corporate world. A leader has followers. If a person lacks followers, then they are not – by the reckoning of most human-beings – a ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Auckland – My Work Here Is Done.
    All the noises coming from the politicians and the press suggest that today could be the day. On the 40th day the great navigator will emerge from days and nights of negotiations to announce that we have arrived.In recent days Captain Luxon has been claiming progress - We're closer to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • How climate change is affecting every U.S. region
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Climate change is making the weather weird in every region of the United States. That’s a key takeaway of the new fifth National Climate Assessment, a sweeping, U.S.-focused report in which top climate scientists summarize the latest research on climate change science, impacts, and ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Free trade agreements may have had their day
    Away from the spotlight of the government formation talks, down the road in Symonds Street at the University of Auckland, a group of academics, government officials, lawyers, consultants, and lobbyists spent yesterday trying to formulate a refresh of New Zealand’s overseas trade policies. The background to their work at ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Caretaker arrangements extended
    Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon have agreed the Governor General will be advised to extend the current caretaker government arrangements until a new Government is formed.  “Under section 6 of the Constitution Act current Ministers must leave office at 11.59pm tomorrow, Saturday 11 November. Given the writ has not yet ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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